Anybody compare the Prince EXO3 Tour 100 (16 x 18) to the new Head IG Extreme Pro 2.0? The review of the Head on file with TW makes it sound like the second coming. Curious to know if any of you Prince EXO3 Tour 100 players have play tested one and what your impressions were.

Finally could prove it on court, it feel pretty good on the volleys, the slice and the forehand, where I can swing confidently. First serve take some time but after that it was pretty well. With the backhand and the second serve I need more time for adjustment. It needs a good footwork I think. Overall is a great improve, I'm going to keep playing and getting better

^It ties the frame together nicely. A stiffer string that's also powerful, plus BBO is a first generation poly and pros change as little as possible. Feels great in the exo. A majority are also using pj`s and not a retail exo.

I play mostly doubles so volleying is a big part where control trumps spin since I spend most of my day hitting nearer the net. The only time I’m hitting from the baseline is returning serves, retrieving lobs or the occasion where I somehow forget to go in after my serve. I suppose when just hitting (no sets) I hit mostly from the baseline.

Time

Used the 16x18 about 100 hours while the 18x20 around 30 hours.

All sticks strung with full bed of Babolat or Wilson natural gut 16 gauge

Common in both sticks

Super flexible sticks that are just wonderful on the arm

Ports make for a very different feel from other racquets (can’t explain it)

Comfortable handle shape

Comfortable throat (for switching grips)

Not a great serving racquet

16x18

Generates more spin

Generates more power

Ball arcs at a higher angle (more net clearance)

Serves with more spin

18x20

More control

Less power

Ball arc at a lower angle (less net clearance)

Serves less spin (but greater accuracy)

Initially I demo’ed both the 16x18 and 18x20 before I purchased either and did hit better with the 18x20. Yet I purchased the 16xx18 since it felt more comfy on my TE as it has less strings. But when the TE cleared up I bought an 18x20 and it was amazing how much more control it has. If I were at my baseline hitting an oncoming ball aiming to strike a cone near the opposite baseline, the 18x20 stroke would be about 2’ closer to hitting the cone than the 16x18.

That may seem like a lot or maybe it seems insignificant. To me that is a huge difference. Now imagine have someone feed me volleys at the net and I’m still trying to hit the cone – it’s still much easier with the 18x20. But in sets opponents will crack balls at high speed and I’ll have to make quick reactions to volley and the extra control the 18x20 provides becomes way more significant.

Summary

I can easily see singles players or baseliners enjoying the spinny 16x18, It’s designed to do that! But the 18x20 provides much more control which would favor net guys.

Yeah i can tell. Luckily I string so I have a few reels to test. So far I love the frame with BHBR 16 at 52 lbs. Really controls the open pattern and allows me to flatten out the ball. I find this frame to be a good hybrid of the flex and control of the Radical with the spin and forgiveness of the Pure Drive.

Back to the Exo3 from the prokennex 5g, I seem to just switch back and forth between these every 6 months or so. Played 6 hours with the exo 3 tour this weekend and I love the fact that my arm feels totally fresh.

Back to the Exo3 from the prokennex 5g, I seem to just switch back and forth between these every 6 months or so. Played 6 hours with the exo 3 tour this weekend and I love the fact that my arm feels totally fresh.

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I always wondered if the 5G was much more friendly than the 7G. So the Exo still beats the 5G in terms of arm friendliness?

Oh yea, nothing beats it as far as I can tell. I think my strokes got a bit better since the last time I used the EXO because when I left it was to get more controlled power. This time I seem to have plenty of power with the exo.

Hey Rabbit!
Wanted to ask you why you switched from the team100 to the warrior. Anything in particular or just wanted a change? Wanted to pick one up to mess around with, is it that much stiffer than the exo100? I'm assuming the feel is somewhat in the same ball park.

Also, BigM had mentioned that some of his frames had cracked or broke, has anyone else had a frame crack on them? Until now, I can happily report that no frames have cracked/broke on me.

Hey Rabbit!
Wanted to ask you why you switched from the team100 to the warrior. Anything in particular or just wanted a change? Wanted to pick one up to mess around with, is it that much stiffer than the exo100? I'm assuming the feel is somewhat in the same ball park.

Also, BigM had mentioned that some of his frames had cracked or broke, has anyone else had a frame crack on them? Until now, I can happily report that no frames have cracked/broke on me.

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im not rabbit, but its a really nice stick if you want power and diversity in your play. but control was way off for me, and it was hard to play with heavier pace. but that was only for a week's worth of demo. im sure if i tried to play with it more i would've adjusted to the balance alot better and got happier results. it doesn't feel any stiffer than the tour but definitely nowhere near as flexible.

and as scratch up as my racquet is, there no cracks. as aggressive as my playstyle is, i would never let my racquet get scratched up except when i frame the ball. which i do often, and usually it would be the reason frames crack unless you whip it at the ground. so i'd say its pretty durable.

^ I'm changing string beds once a week. 2 out of the 4 string jobs on the 16x18 have busted, the other 2 just lost too much tension and felt really mushy.

Maybe I should just string up some syn.gut but weary of that since Beast broke in about 4 sessions, ~5 hours.

Which is why I put my one 16x18 exoTour 100 up for sale on fleabay. I'm stickin' with the 18x20. Deader? Yes. Less Kick? Yes. But I can string it lower and use a greater variety of strings, gauges and tensions.

For someone who doesn't break strings often, it's a great stick, I think deep down, I'm just an 18x20 guy.

^ I'm changing string beds once a week. 2 out of the 4 string jobs on the 16x18 have busted, the other 2 just lost too much tension and felt really mushy.

Maybe I should just string up some syn.gut but weary of that since Beast broke in about 4 sessions, ~5 hours.

Which is why I put my one 16x18 exoTour 100 up for sale on fleabay. I'm stickin' with the 18x20. Deader? Yes. Less Kick? Yes. But I can string it lower and use a greater variety of strings, gauges and tensions.

For someone who doesn't break strings often, it's a great stick, I think deep down, I'm just an 18x20 guy.

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I took the 18x20 out for a demo a few years ago and HATED it. It only took a few minutes of hitting on the wall and a few serves to make me drive it back to the shop. The 16x18 feels like a completely different racket to me. Luckily I string my own or I'd be going broke on labor charges.

I took the 18x20 out for a demo a few years ago and HATED it. It only took a few minutes of hitting on the wall and a few serves to make me drive it back to the shop. The 16x18 feels like a completely different racket to me. Luckily I string my own or I'd be going broke on labor charges.

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We fully agree the EXO3 Tour is a great stick. Yet we're diametrically opposite which Pattern is the "best." I've put in 100+ hours with the open/16x18 and 60+ hours with the closed/18x20. Results are clear.

My game is s/v, net play and precision using Eastern FH & BH. So it may come as no surprise that the closed pattern provides my style of play vastly more controlled shots. YMMV.

We fully agree the EXO3 Tour is a great stick. Yet we're diametrically opposite which Pattern is the "best." I've put in 100+ hours with the open/16x18 and 60+ hours with the closed/18x20. Results are clear.

My game is s/v, net play and precision using Eastern FH & BH. So it may come as no surprise that the closed pattern provides my style of play vastly more controlled shots. YMMV.

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Makes sense to me. My game is primarily baseline with an emphasis on spin so the open pattern fits my game much better. I volley amazingly well with this frame which seems counter intuitive to me since the frame is so flexible.

I'm pretty sure these are above average, as I wouldn't class myself as a frequent string breaker. In a dense 18 x 20 such as the Prestige, I very rarely pop a string before cutting out.

I think I'm about to move on though... much as I like this racquet, I've lost my two biggest strengths - serve and 1hbh.

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I'm at anywhere from 2-8 hours depending on the multi. Full Klip Legend was 11 or 12 hours. I can't see how having a harder poly cross in would extend the gut mains for me. OK, so the strings slide more but I think one of the reasons the Exo is such a string breaker is because the strings move so much.

I haven't heard such stories. I've been playing with mine for a year and a half. I'm pretty hard on a racquet. The only thing that is fragile is the paint job.

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i had noticed that the paint chips away pretty easily even if you are careful so i was a little concerned about the durability, so long as its structurally solid i dont mind the thin beam makes it look so fragile :?

just wondering actually do strings break easier on the open string pattern? i may pick up another one if thats the case

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By definition, an open pattern racquet will eat strings faster than a closed (dense) pattern. To accelerate the string-eating, the EXO3 Tours have ports as opposed to traditional grommets so strings move more. It's the price we pay.

i don't know what it is about guts, but even with professional stringing i tend to break it at the 8 hour mark. i have yet to break any poly, but they tend to drop in tension pretty quickly. i usually string 3 pounds higher and let it sit for a day before i use it and the tension stability is perfect for me.

my only complaint is i don't 100% like how the racquet is balanced. over the past 2 years i've been messing around with the weight but i can't find the balance i like without sacrificing plowthrough and control.

I think it's a swing path issue. When serving, I just don't manage to pronate the way I do with my previous racquet (a Head Prestige), and have to really force it to generate any flat pace. Whatever it is, the results speak for themselves: I don't get any free points with this racquet.

For the backhand, it just feels slightly awkward when driving. My instinct is that it's the head size.

Initially, I told myself things would just take a little time to adjust. Forehand and volleys were both improved, so I could live with it. 11 months later, and I'm not seeing the results I want. I picked up the Prestige again a couple of weeks ago, and within an hour both strokes were grooving. Really I want something that's a mix of these two sticks.

I just bought a used Exo Tour with a bunch of lead tape at 3 and 9. It also has a leather grip on it. The seller claims I have to try it with the added weight but it just feels weird to me. I really like playing with it stock.

I just bought a used Exo Tour with a bunch of lead tape at 3 and 9. It also has a leather grip on it. The seller claims I have to try it with the added weight but it just feels weird to me. I really like playing with it stock.

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I think the stick stock is way too light. Well it's fantastic for whipping fast shots but a bit unstable. The added weight (for me) at 3/9 counterbalanced at the butt makes the stick have great plow. Yet in the summer heat I prefer no lead so the ball stays inside the baselines!~

I think the stick stock is way too light. Well it's fantastic for whipping fast shots but a bit unstable. The added weight (for me) at 3/9 counterbalanced at the butt makes the stick have great plow. Yet in the summer heat I prefer no lead so the ball stays inside the baselines!~

Hey Rabbit!
Wanted to ask you why you switched from the team100 to the warrior. Anything in particular or just wanted a change? Wanted to pick one up to mess around with, is it that much stiffer than the exo100? I'm assuming the feel is somewhat in the same ball park.

Also, BigM had mentioned that some of his frames had cracked or broke, has anyone else had a frame crack on them? Until now, I can happily report that no frames have cracked/broke on me.

im not rabbit, but its a really nice stick if you want power and diversity in your play. but control was way off for me, and it was hard to play with heavier pace. but that was only for a week's worth of demo. im sure if i tried to play with it more i would've adjusted to the balance alot better and got happier results. it doesn't feel any stiffer than the tour but definitely nowhere near as flexible.

and as scratch up as my racquet is, there no cracks. as aggressive as my playstyle is, i would never let my racquet get scratched up except when i frame the ball. which i do often, and usually it would be the reason frames crack unless you whip it at the ground. so i'd say its pretty durable.

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sorry about the late reply. The Warrior is, as wofinsigna posted, more powerful than the Tour. It is a tad bit stiffer, but still supremely comfortable. IMO, it feels more solid off the ground. I've been off court since the 1st of November with a torn soleus, and hope to be back on first part of next year.

The Warrior feels more solid than the Tour IMO. I'm was just starting to use Beast/Attack in it, and need some more time.

I just bought a used Exo Tour with a bunch of lead tape at 3 and 9. It also has a leather grip on it. The seller claims I have to try it with the added weight but it just feels weird to me. I really like playing with it stock.

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I slapped a leather grip on after the first hit - I just can't be doing with synthetic. Later on I tried a dab of lead at 12, but thought it ruined the swing. I haven't tried any at 3 and 9... perhaps I should.

I slapped a leather grip on after the first hit - I just can't be doing with synthetic. Later on I tried a dab of lead at 12, but thought it ruined the swing. I haven't tried any at 3 and 9... perhaps I should.

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A few people I know swear by the 3 and 9 setup. Leather grips don't seem quite as arm friendly to me.

The leather grip certainly gives more feedback from the racquet. In terms of arm-friendliness I'm not convinced there's much difference; it's definitely not as hand friendly! I have five callouses because of it. But it's still a habit I can't give up - at times I wish I'd never started!

The leather grip certainly gives more feedback from the racquet. In terms of arm-friendliness I'm not convinced there's much difference; it's definitely not as hand friendly! I have five callouses because of it. But it's still a habit I can't give up - at times I wish I'd never started!

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Hand friendly might be the better term. It just seems harder on my hands even with an overgrip.